Paula Deen dismisses critics in the wake of diabetes announcement

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Southern-style TV cook Paula Deen has been routinely criticized for her fat-laden recipes. Things got more complicated for her when she recently announced not only does she have diabetes but she’s shilling for a drug to treat the disease. But amidst all this, Deen is unrepentant.

“I think a few people who have access to a TV camera and ink kind of wanted to hate on me for coming down with something,” she tells the Associated Press. “But I so don’t worry about it.”

Deen, who often serves up dishes with massive quantities of butter or even things like deep-fried cheesecake, broke the news of her medical condition on Jan. 17 despite being diagnosed three years ago. She explains to the AP that the reason for the delay had nothing to do with protecting her business empire, but it was simply because of her agoraphobia.

“It took me 20 years to come out and stand up and say, ‘Hey, my name’s Paula and I’m agoraphobic,'” she says. “I was so ashamed, so embarrassed. So to do it in two-and-a-half years, I thought it was pretty good.”

Deen does say she’s not planning on making major modifications to her recipes, but rather, just some tweaks.

“I am who I am. But what I will be doing is offering up lighter versions of my recipes,” she says. “I’m Southern by roots. I was taught (to cook) by my grandmother and nothing I can do would change that.”